January 18, 2017 AT 2:00 am

Aerochromics: Clothing that changes color when exposed to air pollution #WearableWednesday

Faced with a world of increasing outdoor air pollution, designer Nikolas Gregory Bentel decided to help fellow city dwellers monitor their own environments. Bentel has recently released a new line of pollution-detecting shirts, Aerochromics, which fluctuate in color when exposed to various pollution levels in the air. Although the shirts put information in the hands of the wearer, Aerochromics carry a $500 price tag, which limits the eco-conscious customer to those with as much cash flow as interest in their environments.

Although pricey, Aerochromics are effective pollution-detecting garments. The long sleeve shirts reveal three artistic patterns, each in black and white, which react when exposed to carbon monoxide, particulate pollution and radiation. Once the air reaches an Air Quality Index of 60 or above, the Aerochromic dye begins to react, and slowly reveal the hidden pattern which is completely shown at an AQI of 160.